BAGHDAD, Iraq – Iran’s Revolutionary Guards launched a series of ballistic missile attacks on targets in Syria and northern Iraq, including an alleged intelligence center operated by Mossad, the Israeli spy agency. The elite force claimed that the strikes on an “espionage center” in the Iraqi city of Erbil were carried out in response to Israeli attacks that killed an Iranian commander in Syria and members of Iran-backed militant groups in the region.
These missile attacks by Iran have raised concerns about the possibility of a wider regional conflict in the already volatile Middle East. Tensions have been escalating since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October. The US State Department, condemning the Erbil attacks, warned that they would further destabilize the region. Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the State Department, expressed support for the efforts of the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government to address the concerns of the Iraqi people.
Iraq’s foreign ministry also condemned Iran’s actions, calling it an “aggression” that violated Iraqi sovereignty. The ministry announced plans to take legal measures, including filing a complaint with the United Nations Security Council. Kurdish authorities in Erbil reported that several ballistic missiles were fired by Iran, resulting in the deaths of four people and injuries to six others. While some missiles landed near the US consulate in the city, there was no damage to the diplomatic mission.
In addition to the missile strikes, three armed drones were shot down over Erbil airport, where US and international forces are stationed. The airport complex houses a military base that serves as a hub for the US-led coalition fighting against the remnants of the Islamic State group. Kurdish authorities strongly condemned the attack, emphasizing that it was a violation of the sovereignty of the Kurdistan region and Iraq. They called on the international community to take action and not remain silent in the face of such crimes.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards also launched missile strikes in Syria, targeting ISIS in response to a suicide bombing in southern Iran that killed nearly 100 people. Iran-backed militant groups have been launching attacks across the region in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war. These hostilities involve Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthi rebels in Yemen attacking merchant ships in the Red Sea, and Iranian-supported Iraqi militants launching missiles and drones against US forces in Iraq and Syria.
Amidst these escalating tensions, concerns over a wider conflict have grown. Increased Israeli strikes have killed a senior Revolutionary Guards commander in Syria and seven Hamas militants, including a senior leader, in Beirut. Israel has also intensified its rhetoric and strikes against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
Iran has repeatedly indicated its desire to avoid direct involvement in a larger conflict with the US or Israel. However, it has supported its proxies in what it considers the Axis of Resistance, as they retaliate against Israel’s offensive in Gaza. The Iranian-backed attacks have so far been contained within each theater of conflict.
Nevertheless, the situation remains tense, as evidenced by recent events such as the US killing a senior Iraqi militia leader in an airstrike and its strikes against Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen. Iran had vowed revenge after suicide bombers targeted a cemetery in the city of Kerman, killing mourners commemorating the death of Revolutionary Guards commander Qassem Soleimani. While Iran has previously conducted strikes in northern Iraq, this renewed escalation has raised concerns about a broader conflict in the region.
Iranian forces have been deployed in Syria to support President Bashar al-Assad in the country’s ongoing civil war. The Israel-Hamas war, which began in October, has resulted in a violent exchange of attacks between the Palestinian militant group and Israel. The death toll continues to rise, causing outrage across Arab and Muslim countries.
In this tense environment, the Revolutionary Guards have vowed to continue their offensive operations. As the region remains on edge, the potential for further violence and escalation is a cause for serious concern.